Self-configuring Systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to entering data into a trailer backup guidance system. In particular, the present invention relates to providing data by auto-configuration to systems for guiding a trailer while backing such as (i) the wheel base of the vehicle, (ii) the length of the trailer, (iii) the wheel base of the vehicle measured in units of trailer length, (iv) the ratio of the turning of the steering wheel to the turning of the wheels of the vehicle, and (v) a communication link's address or ID.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A parameter estimating technique for use with a backing up guidance system comprising: a vehicle that can tow a trailer, a device to determine angular velocity, and a device to determine lateral acceleration whereby angular velocity and lateral acceleration are used to calculate one or more estimated values from the list of (i) the wheel base of the vehicle, and (ii) the ratio of the turning of the steering wheel to the turning of the wheels of the vehicle, and (iii) the wheel base of the vehicle measured in units of trailer length, (iv) the length of the trailer, (v) a communication link's address or ID, and the one or more values are used to compute a direction for a trailer. 
     
     
         2 . The parameter estimating technique of  claim 1  whereby the calculation of one or more values is performed more than once with the multiple estimated values calculated then being combined for a more accurate result. 
     
     
         3 . The values calculated of  claim 2  whereby an input enables the system to use a value provided to the system either instead of the estimated value calculated or without performing the estimated value calculation. 
     
     
         4 . The value provided to the system of  claim 3  whereby the value is communicated wirelessly. 
     
     
         5 . The value provided to the system of  claim 3  whereby the value is input on a mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . A parameter estimating technique for use with a backing up guidance system comprising: a vehicle coupled to a trailer, a system to aid guiding the trailer along a path or to a destination, a device to determine the angle of the wheels used to turn the vehicle, and a device to determine the hitch angle whereby the angle of the wheels and the hitch angle are used to calculate one or more estimated values from the list of (i) the wheel base of the vehicle, and (ii) the ratio of the turning of the steering wheel to the turning of the wheels of the vehicle, and (iii) the wheel base of the vehicle measured in units of trailer length, (iv) the length of the trailer, (v) a communication link's address or ID, and the one or more values are used to compute a direction for a trailer. 
     
     
         7 . The calculation of the ratio of the turning of the steering wheel to the turning of the wheels of the vehicle of  claim 6  further comprising the calculation or the estimation of a non-linear relationship between the turning of the steering wheel to the turning of the wheels of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The parameter estimating technique of  claim 6  whereby linear measurements in the system to aid guiding the trailer along a path or to a destination are made relative to the length of the trailer. 
     
     
         9 . The system to aid guiding the trailer along a path or to a destination of  claim 8  whereby the value used to represent the length of a trailer does not change with trailers of different lengths. 
     
     
         10 . The value used to represent the wheel base of the vehicle of  claim 9  whereby an input enables the system to use a value provided to the system either instead of the estimated value calculated or without performing the estimated value calculation. 
     
     
         11 . The value provided to the system of  claim 10  whereby the value is communicated wirelessly. 
     
     
         12 . The value provided to the system of  claim 10  whereby the value is input on a mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The value input on a mobile device of  claim 12  whereby the mobile device accepts as inputs the trailer length and the wheel base of the vehicle, recomputes the length of the wheel base to be in units of measure of trailer length, and provides the recomputed wheel base value to the system instead of the estimated value calculated by the system or without the system performing the estimated value calculation. 
     
     
         14 . The value input on a mobile device of  claim 12  whereby the value is stored by the system for computation of a value at a later point in time to be used instead of the estimated value calculated by the system or without the system performing the estimated value calculation. 
     
     
         15 . A parameter estimating technique for use with identifying a wireless device comprising: a first device comprising an input and wireless connection circuitry, and a second device comprising a display and wireless connection circuitry whereby (a) the first device communicates identifying information to the second device, (b) the identifying information comprises information about the input, (c) the second device displays the identifying information, and (d) the second device modifies the displaying of the identifying information depending upon the information about the input. 
     
     
         16 . The parameter estimating technique for use with identifying a wireless device of  claim 9  further comprising a third device comprising an input and wireless connection circuitry whereby the third device is distinguished from the second device as a function of the difference between the modified display of the identifying information of the second device and the display of the identifying information of the third device. 
     
     
         17 . The modification of the displaying of the identifying information of  claim 9  whereby the modification comprises changing one or more of the displayed identifying information's font style, the font color, the background, or the list position. 
     
     
         18 . The changing font style of  claim 17  whereby change in font comprises changing one or more of the font's bolding, italicizing, underlining or size. 
     
     
         19 . The changing background of  claim 17  whereby change in background comprises changing one or more of the background's color, pattern or border. 
     
     
         20 . The modification of the displaying of the identifying information of  claim 9  whereby the modification comprises displaying proximate to the displayed identifying information's list entry one or more of an icon, symbol, picture, or character.